Dual typewriting mechanism and desk structure



G. SANTILLI 1,727,252

DUAL TYPE WRITING MEECHANISM AND DESK STRUCTURE Sept. 3, 1929.

4 Sheets-Sheet Filed May 11, 1929 S m m W A 2 M 1 JV a Sept. 3, 1929. G. SANTlLLI 1,727,252

DUAL TYPEWRITING MECHANISM AND DESK STRUCTURE Filed May 11, 192 '4 Sheets- Sheet 3 @31 5. m \-l h- 4e 2a 19 -10 "nu-"n"" 2/ l 5o lb I v I 7 84 27 l a8 7 H INVENTOR.

84 BY'H ATTORNEYS Fatented Sept. 3, 1929.

1,727,252 PATENT orrrcr.

GIUSEPPE SANTILLI, OF ASTORIA, NEW YORK.

DUAL TYPEWEITING MECHANISM AND DESK STRUCTURE.

Application filed May 11, 1928. 'fi erial No. 276,917.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in dual typewriting machines and desk structures and has for one of its objects to provide for the simultaneous operation of a pair of independent typewriting machines from a single key board operatively associated with the two separate machines whereby two letters or other papers may be written in the origi- 1o nal at the same time.

A further objectof the invention is to provide a dual typewriting machine and desk structure wherein the desk structure comprises sliding shelves or top sectionssupporting typewriters and an intermediate area for access to an operating key board for the two separate typewriters, the desk structure permitting either automatic opera tion of the two separate typewriting machines or individual direct manual operation of each machine.

A still further object of the invention is to provide novel devices for the simultaneous operation of the separate typewriting machine by the use of, a single key board with a novel system of controlled levers, links and catch devices for sliding top sections of the desk structure.

lViththe above and other objects in view 3 tl at will become apparent as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel form, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described shown in the accompany ing drawings and claimed.

In the drawings: I

Figure 1 is a top plan View of the typewriter desk structure showing the sliding top sections and the control levers therefor; I

Figure 2 is a front elevational view of the desk structure;

Figure 3Jis a top plan view with the sliding top sections move-d rearwardly to permit the single typewriter key board and the double operating devices for separate typewriting machines to be moved into operative positions;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary perspective view showing a part of the dual operating mechanism for the'separate typewriters;

Figure 5 is a vertical cross-sectionalview taken on line 5-5-of- Figure 1, showing the operating mechanism for the typewriter disposed beneath the top of the desk construction;

Figure .6 is a fragmentary side elevational view of one of the auxiliary operating levers in which thetypewriter key operating levers I are slightly lowered into engagement with the typewriter keys.v f i V l The dual typewriter mechanism is associated with a typewriter desk structure in which the desk comprises supporting legs" 1 and top 2, the top 2 comprising a rigid section 3 extending longitudinally of the top adjacent the rear; edge while the forward side of the desk top is provided with a central opening l and lateralopeningsh separated by rails 6 The operating mechanism for the two typewriters isnormally disposed beneath the table top 2 and comprises a single key board thatis movable upwardly through the central opening 4, while the op erating devices for the two separate type writing machines is movable upwardly through the lateral openingsfiv The table top openings are closed by the sliding top sections 7 and-8 respectively overlying the central openings and lateral openings 5, the lower faces of thesliding table top sections being provided with depending ribs 9 cngageable with the tabletop for limiting sliding movement thereof. A

typewriting machine is to be carrier by each end top section 8 as illustrated by dotted lines in Figure 7, while a rack or cabinet 10 is carried by the top section 7 as shown in Figures 1 and 2.

Devices are associated with the lateral sliding table top sections 8 for holding them in adjusted? positions and comprise a plurality of links and levers prn'narily operated upon movement of the middle top sliding section 7, As shown in Figures land 3,

each rear corner ofthe top section 7 carries a perpendicular stud l1' :upon which the lever 12 is plvotally supported, the rear short llO ends of the lever 12 being connected together by the spring 13 and limited in a movement toward each other by the short ends of said leversmoving into engagement with the stop pins 15 on the top section 7. The opposite longer end of each lever 12 carries a depending pin 15 for purposes presently to appear. As shown more clearly in Figure 3, the rear inner side edge of eacn lateral top section 8 carriesa longitudinally extending strip 16 provided with tree spaced edge notches 17. 18 a id 19. A lever 20 is pivotally mountedas at 21 upon each rail 6 and has pins 22 and 23 depending from opposite ends thereof. A relatively long lever 24; is pivotally mountedv as at upon the end of the table top 2 and has a link connection 26 I with the lever 20.

When the middle tops-action 7 is at its limit of forward movement the levers 12 are engaged with the levers 20 at point thereof forwardly of the pivo'al mountings 21 so that pins 23 carried bythe lever 20 are moved in directions toward the notched strips 16. When thelateral table top sec 7 tions 8 are in the normally closed position.

the pins 23 are engaged thenotches 19 of thestrips 16 and said top sections or held against movement, When it is desired to manually operate each typewriter to the exclusion of the dual operating mechanism the lever 24 is operated for shifting the lever 20 "to disengage the pin 23 from the notch 19'an'd at which time the table top may he slid forwardly until the intermediate notch 18 registers with the pin 23 and is permitted to enter the notch when pressure on the lever 24: is relieved, The side levers 20 are also simultaneously operated upon the sliding movement of the middle top section 7 as shown inFigure 3, at which time, the top sections 8 are moved rearwardly to expose the table top openings 5.

The dual typewriter mechanism comprises devices movably supported beneath the desk top and include a frame having a bottom wall 2'7, end walls 28 and a' rear wall 29]; the rear wall 29 being hinged as at 3O tothe rear side rail 31 of the desk strut ture. Descending movement of the frame structure is limited by the rear wall 29 thereof engaging the rear side rail 31 as will be understood from an inspection of Figures 5 and 7. A longitudinally extending rod 32 is fixed at its ends in the-end walls 28 of the frameadjacent the rear wall 29 while another rod 33 1s fixed at its, ends in the'trame asallustrated4- A complement of typewriterkey levers 34 arepivot-ally mounted upon the rod 32 beneath the central opening l or" the desk top, and being tensioned in upward directions by devices presently to be described, upward .movement of the key levers 3% is limited by contact with the rod 33. A plurality of operating levers or" the key levers of a typewriting machine are pivotally supported on the rod 32 adjacent each end thereof, each plurality or set of operating levers being disposed beneath the desk top opening 5 and each operating lever 35 having an upstanding hooked arm 36 with a cushion pad 37 upon the end thereot for engaging the lrey 38 of the typewriting machine 39. The operating levers 35 being ar ranged in groups adjacent each end of the rod 32,'cor-responding characters in the two groups are connected by a longitudinally extending strip 40 having .pin connections 11 *ith the undersides of the operating levers 35. The strip 10 connecting corresponding levers 35 in the spaced groups also has an upstanding pin connection 12 with the corresponding operating lei c1134: of the intermediately positioned complement or chest of key operating levers. The operating levers 35 are disposed below the rod 33 and said rod is provided with a plurality 01' pe pendicular angle arms 43 having a spring con nection 14i with each operating lever the several springs 4: 1 holding the levers 3e and 35 at their limits of upward movement. The typewriter key operating levers 35 and the complement 01 typewriter key levers 3e are adapted to be moved upwardly through the desk top openings alined therewith the devices for raising the frame 27 and operating levers carried thereby are shown more clearly in Figures 5 to9.

An arm 45 is fixed to the underside of the frame 27 adjacent each end thereof and extends downwardly at an angle therefrom toward the forward side of the desk structure. A longitudinally extending rod 46 is journaled in the arms 515 and has fixed to each end thereof, a latch arm 47. Each latch arm is notched upon opposite edges at different elevations as at 48 and 4-9 for selective engagement with pins 48 and 49 carried by the end drop 50 of the desk structure. The shaft 46 is rotatably tensioned in a direction to cause the notches 4-8 to be engagedwith the pins 418 when the arms all are raised and the tensioning devices include a pair of arms 51 fixed to the rod d6 adjacent each handle 45 with the free ends thereof connected by the rod 52. The arms 51 are located outwardlyof the handle 45 and the springs 53 connecting the handles to the arms 51 cause rod 52 to be moved into engagement with the handle for limiting rotary movement of the rodeltl'.

When it is desired to use the two typewriting machines, the central top section 7 is moved rearwardly and the levers 12 carried thereby shift the levers 20 to disengage the pins 23 from the notches 19. When the levers 20 are disengaged from the sliding top sections 8, the latter are then slidrearwardlyto thepositions shown in Figure 3 and the pins 15 depending from the levers 12 hold the levers 20 in the position illustrated. The frame structure beneath the nd V desk top is then elevated by the handles 45 upon the hinge mounting 30, the complement or bank of typewriting keys 34 being moved upwardly into the opening 4: of the desk top, while the hook arms 36 of the operating levers 35 are moved upwardly into the desk top openings 5. The arms 47 have. the notches 49 thereof engaged with the pins 49 for holding the operating mechanism raised. When the top sections 8 are in the positions shown in Figure 3, the pins 22 of the levers 20 are engaged in the intermediate slots 18 of the strips 16 to hold the top sections against movement. lVith the operating levers 35 properly positioned wvith the hooked ends 36 thereof disposed above the desk top, the latter with the typewriter 39 supported thereon as shown in Figure 7, is then ready to be moved forwardly to dispose the typewriter keys 38 beneath the cushioned ends 37 of thehooked arms 36. The side lever 24 is then operated to disengage the pin 22 of the lever 20 from engagement with the strip 16 to permit forward sliding movement of the top section 8. As the lever 20 is te nsioned by the lever 12, the pin 22 rides over the adjacent edge of the strip 16 until the notch 17 is positioned to receive the pin 22 and at'which time sliding movement of the top section 8 is arrested. In this position, the ends of the operating levers 35 are disposed directly above an associated typewriter key 38 and slightly spaced from the same. At this time, a slight upward movement of the operating devices will cause the arms 27 to be disengaged from the pins 49* while the springs 53 will move the arms 47 to cause the notches 4:8 to receive the pins 48 and be supported thereon. When so disposed, the operating mechanism is slightly lowered and the cushioned ends 37 of the operating levers 35 are directly engaged with the associated keys 38 of the typewriting machine. The middle bank of keys 3a is then operated and by the rod con nections 40 with associated operating levers 35, corresponding characters of the two typewriting machines are simultaneously operated. When itis desired to manually operate each typewriting machine separately, and to the exclusion of the dual operating mechanism, the table top sections :8 are moved rearwardly when released by the guide levers 24 and after the operating levers 35 have been slightly elevated off of the typewriter keys 38, at whichtime, the

operating mechanism is lowered beneath the desk top. The top section 8 may then be moved forwardly until the pin 23 engaged in the intermediate notch 18 of the strip 16 and at which time, the forward end of the top section 8 will project'slightly beyond the desk top for the convenient location of the typewriting machine.

From the above detailed description, it is believed that the construction and operation will at once be apparent, and while there is herein shownand described the preferred embodimentof the present invention, it is nevertheless to be understood that minor changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

l/Vhat I claim as new is 1. In a desk construction for dualtypewriting mechanism, a desk top having slid-' ing top sections covering central and lateral openings spaced by rails, notched strips carried by the top sections, one strip overlying each of the lateral openings, a series of interengaged levers carried by the desk top and central top sections and engageable with the strips for holding the lateral top sections in ad usted positions, and dual typewriter operating mechanism disposed beneath the desk top and movable upwardlythrough the openings. I

2. In a desk construction for dual typewriting mechanism, a desk tophaving sliding top sections covering central and lateral openings spaced by rails, notched strips carried by the top sections, one strip overlying, each of the lateral openings, a series of interengaged levers carried by, the desk top and central top sections andengageable with the strips for holding the lateral top sections in adjusted posit-ions, dual typewriter operat-, ing mechanism disposed beneath the desk top and movable upwardly through the openings, and a spring for the levers on the central top section for normally'moving a lever on the desk top into engagement with a strip. Y 3. In a desk construction for dual typewriting mechanism, a desk top having sliding top sections covering central and lateral openings spaced by rails, notched strips carried by the top sections, one strip overlying each of the lateral openings, a series of interengaged levers carried by the desk top and central top sections and engageable with the, strips for holding the lateral top sections in adjusted positions, dual typewriter operating mechanism disposed beneath the desk 8 top and movable upwardly through the openings, a spring for the levers on the central top section for normally moving a lever on the desk top into engagement with a strip, and a manually operable leveron each end of the desk top for releasing'the levers from engagement with the strips. I

' 4. In a desk construction for dual typewriting mechanism, a desk top having sliding top sections covering central and lateral openings spaced by rails, notched strips carried by the top sections, one strip overlying each of the lateral openings, a series of inter-engaged levers carried by thedesk top andcentral top sections and engageable with the strips for holding the lateral top sections in adjusted positions, dual typewriter operating mechanism disposed beneath the desk top and movable upwardly through the openings, the typewriting mechanism comprising a frame hinged beneath the desk top, a central bank of typewriter keys carried by the frame, lateral sets of typewriter key operating levers on the frame, connec tions between corresponding typewriter keys and operating levers, and means for holding the typewriter operating mechanism in a raised position with the operating levers adapted to be engaged with the keys of type writing machines mounted on the lateral desk top sections.

5. In a desk construction for dual typewriting mechanism, a desk top having sliding top sections covering central and lateral openings spaced by rails, notched strips carried by the top sections, one strip overlying each of the lateral openings, a series of interengaged levers carried by the desk top and centraltop sections and engageable with the strips for holding the lateral top sections in adjusted positions, dual typewriter operating mechanism disposed beneath the desk top and movable upwardly through the openings, a spring for the levers on the central top section for normally moving a lever on the desk top into engagement with a strip, the typewriter operating mechanism comprising a frame hinged beneath the desk top, a central bank of typewriter keys carried by the frame, lateral sets of typewriter key operating levers on the frame, connections between corresponding typewriter keys and operating levers, and means for holding the typewriter operating mechanism in a raised position with the operating levers adapted to be engaged with the keys of typewriting machines mounted on the lateral desk top sections.

' 6. In a desk construction fordual typewriting mechanism, a desk top having sliding top sections covering central and lateral openings spaced by rails, notched strips carried by the top sections, one strip overlying each of the lateral openings, a series of inter-engaged levers carried by the desk top and central top'sections and engageable with the strips for holding the lateral top sections in adjusted positions, dual typewriter operating mechanism disposed beneath the desk top and movable upwardly through the openings, a spring for the levers onthe central top section for normally moving a lever on the desk top into engagement; with a strip, a manually operable lever on each end of the desk top for releasing the levers from en agement with the strips, the typewriter operating mechanism comprising, a frame hinged beneath the desk top, a central bank of typewriter keys carried by the frame, lateral sets of typewriter key operating levers on the fran'ie, connections between corresponding typewriter keys and operating levers, and means for holding the typewriter operating mechanism in a raised position with the operating levers adapted to be engaged with the keys of typewriting ma-v chines mounted on the lateral desk top sections.

7. In a desk construction for dual typewriting mechanism, a desk top having sliding top sections covering central and lateral openings spaced by rails, notched strips carried by the top sections, one strip overlying each of the lateral openings, a series of interengaged levers carried by the desk top and central top sections and engageable with the strips for holding the lateral top sections in adjusted positions, dual typewriter operating mechanism disposed beneath the desk top and movable upwardly through the openings, the typewriter operating mechanism comprising a frame hinged beneath the desk top, a central bank of typewriter keys carried by the frame, lateral sets of typewriter key operating levers on the frame, connections between corresponding typewriter keys and operating levers, and means for holding the typewriter operating mechanism in a raised position with the operating levers ada'ptedto be engaged with the keys of typewriting machines mounted on the lateral desk top sections, the last named means having two rest positions permitting movement of the desk tops and machines beneath the ends of the operating levers and subsequently supporting the levers in a lowered position engaged with the typewriter keys.

8. In a desk construction for dual typewriting mechanism, a desk top having sliding top sections covering central and lateral openings spaced by rails, notched strips carried by the top sections, one strip overlying each of the lateral openings, 2. series of inter-engaged levers carried by the desk top and 'cent-ral top sections and engageable with the strips for holding the lateral top sections in adjusted positions, dual typewriter operating mechanism disposed beneath the desk topand movable upwardly through the openings, 2. spring for the levers on the central top section for normally moving a lever on the desk top into engagement with a strip, the typewriter operating mechanism comprising a frame hinged beneath the desk top, a central bank of typewriter keys carried by the frame, lateral sets of typewriter key operating levers on the frame, connections-between corresponding typewriter keys and operating levers, and means for holding the typewriter operating mechanism in a raised position with the operating levers adapted to be engaged with the keys of typewritingmachines mounted on the lateral, desk top sections, the last named means having two rest positions permitting movement of the desk tops and machines beneath the ends of the operating levers and subsequently supporting the levers in a lowered position engaged with the typewriter keys.

9. In a desk construction for dual typewriting mechanism, a desk top having sliding top sections covering central and lateral openings spaced by rails, notched strips carried by the top sections, one strip overlying each of the lateral openings, a series of inter-engaged levers carried by the desk top and central top sections and engageable with the strips for holding the lateral top sections in adjusted positions, dual typewriter operating mechanism disposed beneath the desk 1 top and movable upwardly through the openings, a spring for the levers on the central top section for normally moving a lever on the desk top into engagement with a strip, a manually operable lever on each end of the desk top for releasing the levers from enlateral sets of typewriter key operating levers on the frame, connections between carresponding typewriter keys and operating levers, and means for holding the typewriter operating mechanism in a raised position with the operating levers adapted to he engaged with the keys of typewriting machines mounted on the lateral desk top sec tions, the last named means having two rest positions permitting movement of the desk tops and machines beneath the ends of the operating levers and subsequently supporting the levers in a lowered position engaged with the typewriter keys.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

GIUSEPPE SANTILLI. 

